Today we’d like to introduce you to Russell/katherine Dodson
Russell/Katherine, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
odyssey is the locally-owned business-baby of JI residents katherine and russell dodson. these two nut-jobs didn’t have enough going on with their 2 kids, 2 dogs, 1 cat and 6 fish that, after having to leave the island for the bazilyionth time to go find a great selection of craft beer to bring home, they screamed from the mountain tops (*flat driveway) that they were going to change that for all the wonderful people of JI.
and with that, odyssey was born: an island-inspired neighborhood spot to kick back and clank glasses with your people and strangers alike.
all are welcome. except jerks.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Bartending as 40+ year old parents of 2 small children was tough for the first few months when we opened up before we could afford to hire help.
We also tried to say yes to any and all suggestions whidh there were a ton and it spread us thin.
We’ve been impressed with Odyssey Bottle Shop, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
we are an island inspired rotating craft beer tap room and wine bar with rotating food trucks every night, weekly trivia and stand up comedy and occasionally live music and quirky events featuring things like brewery tap takeovers, special chef/restaurant pop-ups, pet adoption events, interesting classes(like making Korean Corn Dogs, candles, paint and sip etc), Chicken Shit Bingo. etc
We show surf films all day on the TV’s. For sports on the weekend, we are a UGA bar but we welcome everyone and play all other games witih the bulldogs aren’t on. we have arcade games, a huge bar plus living room area with couches and arm chairs around a coffee table, large patio and fenced in backyard area, all of which come as a surprise that there is so much space to relax bc when you see it from the grocery store) parking lot it doesn’t seem like it could be that large. we sell beer and wine on premise as well as to go and a host of Delta 9 products.
we are very home-y and a neighborhood bar have been told a lot that we’re like a community center that serves alcohol, where you know you can pop in any time any day and see someone you know and when it’s packed you. feel like you’re at a house oparty where you know everybody.
people have told us they’ve built relationships there with people they’ve seen in the neighborhood for years but never known and now they are friends because of Odyssey.
Any big plans?
We are hoping to continue to make things more comfortable and accommodating. We may be adding some things and losing some things as we go but overall it will remain the same vibe
Contact Info:
- Website: https://odysseybottleshop.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/odysseybottleshop/?hl=en
